The Redemption Project Podcast

The Redemption Project
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Daily

The Redemption Project tells real stories of change, accountability, and second chances. Hosted by Brandon Burley—a retired law enforcement detective, criminal justice educator, and journalist—this podcast features conversations with men and women who have lived on both sides of the justice system, along with the ministries, programs, and people helping them rebuild their lives. Each episode explores what redemption actually looks like after prison: recovery, faith, responsibility, failure, growth, and the long road back to trust and purpose. Some stories are quiet. Some are uncomfortable. newsroom.theredemptionproject.news

  1. 4d ago

    ShowerUp

    Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe Paul Schmitz thought Christian radio would be his lifelong career. Then God took him on a left turn. In this Season 5 Good Works episode of The Redemption Project, Brandon Burley talks with Paul Schmitz, founder of ShowerUp, a ministry providing clean, private, hot mobile showers and laundry services for people experiencing homelessness. Paul shares how a simple act of serving meals grew into a national ministry, how a box truck became the first ShowerUp unit, why consistency builds trust on the street, and why the work is never really about soap and water. It is about dignity. It is about relationship. It is about helping people feel human again.

  2. Aug 28

    Kathy Simmons S2:E17

    Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

  3. Aug 25

    Understanding Lobbyists: Genevieve Turner on Influence, Advocacy and How Policy Gets Made

    People hear the word lobbyist and often picture money changing hands, private dinners and powerful corporations attempting to buy political influence. That picture is not entirely invented. It is also far from complete. The better question is not simply whether lobbying is good or bad. It is: Who is attempting to influence public policy, whom do they represent, and what are they asking the government to do? In this Season 4 Civic Conversation, Brandon Burley speaks with Genevieve Turner, founder of Opal Advocacy, about what lobbyists actually do inside Tennessee’s legislative and government systems. Turner explains the difference between an in-house lobbyist representing one organization and a contract lobbyist working with several clients. Those clients may include corporations, nonprofits, community organizations, service providers or advocates seeking changes involving education, healthcare, corrections, disability services and other public-policy concerns. The conversation examines how lobbyists research legislation, follow committee hearings, monitor amendments, seek state appropriations and help clients communicate with legislators and government agencies. Lobbying may involve supporting a proposal, negotiating changes or attempting to stop legislation that a client believes would cause harm. Brandon and Genevieve also discuss ethics, conflicts of interest and transparency. Tennessee lobbyists must register with the state, and members of the public can search for lobbyists and the organizations employing them. That does not resolve every concern about political influence, but it gives citizens a place to begin examining who is involved. The episode also draws an important distinction between professional lobbying and citizen advocacy. A citizen may contact a legislator, testify before a committee or explain how a proposal affects their family or community. A lobbyist typically brings ongoing relationships, procedural knowledge and experience navigating the legislative process. One does not replace the other. Ultimately, this conversation is about how influence works before a bill becomes law—and why understanding that process helps citizens evaluate it more responsibly. I am a retired detective and criminal justice / government educator based in Tennessee. I am a commentary write for Tennessee Lookout and a weekly columnist with Knox TN Today. My work examines public policy, public safety systems and civic responsibility. My reporting and commentary have also appeared in Governing, The Arizona Capitol Times, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Police1, among other state and regional outlets. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

  4. Aug 11

    ALPR and Flock Technology Explained: When License Plate Readers Become a Privacy Debate

    What are Flock cameras, and why are so many people suddenly concerned about them? In this Season 3 Systems Explained episode, Brandon Burley talks with Nick Nugent, a University of Tennessee law professor who teaches technology law and constitutional law, about automated license plate readers, public safety, privacy and the difference between what may be legal and what kind of surveillance society we actually want. The conversation separates two questions: Is this constitutional? And even if it is lawful, is this the policy Tennessee communities want? Brandon brings his law enforcement background into the discussion, explaining why he once helped set up a limited Flock system but now has serious concerns about mass vehicle-location tracking, private third-party data collection, weak audit controls and the ability to map a person’s movements over time. This is not an anti-police episode. It is not a pro-surveillance episode. It is a civic explainer about technology, public safety, privacy and the rules that should govern powerful tools before the tools become normal. I am a retired detective and criminal justice / government educator based in Tennessee. I am a commentary write for Tennessee Lookout and a weekly columnist with Knox TN Today. My work examines public policy, public safety systems and civic responsibility. My reporting and commentary have also appeared in Governing, The Arizona Capitol Times, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Police1, among other state and regional outlets. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

  5. Aug 11

    Alliance Women’s Clinic: Breanna Houston on Faith, Pregnancy Support and a New Lenoir City Mission

    For Breanna Houston, the debate over abortion is not theoretical. At 18 years old, away at college and frightened about what an unexpected pregnancy might mean for her future, she had an abortion. Years later, after becoming a Christian and walking through a post-abortion Bible study, she began confronting the grief, shame and questions she had carried with her. That experience now shapes the work she believes she has been called to do. In this Season 4 Civic Conversation, Brandon Burley speaks with Houston about the planned Alliance Women’s Clinic in downtown Lenoir City—a nonprofit, Christian pregnancy center intended to provide free services and support to women and families facing pregnancy-related decisions. Houston explains how her personal story, faith and previous nonprofit work led her to Alliance Family Services, a growing national network of pregnancy centers. She describes the planned clinic, its fundraising and construction needs, the services organizers hope to provide and the role volunteers, churches, medical professionals and community partners may play. The conversation also enters difficult territory. Brandon and Breanna discuss abortion, post-abortion healing, the responsibilities of churches, support for young mothers, fathers and families, foster care, addiction recovery and the tension between speaking from deeply held convictions and treating people with compassion. Houston is direct about her beliefs. She identifies as unapologetically pro-life and argues that Christian opposition to abortion must involve more than political statements. It must include material support, mentorship, healthcare connections, recovery resources and a willingness to walk beside women and families for the long term. The episode does not avoid controversy or pretend that everyone will agree. Instead, it asks a more practical question: If a community says that every life has value, what responsibilities follow from that belief? Alliance Women’s Clinic is planned for 118 North A Street in Lenoir City. The organization is currently raising funds, preparing the building and developing its network of staff, volunteers and community partners. I am a retired detective and criminal justice / government educator based in Tennessee. I am a commentary write for Tennessee Lookout and a weekly columnist with Knox TN Today. My work examines public policy, public safety systems and civic responsibility. My reporting and commentary have also appeared in Governing, The Arizona Capitol Times, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Police1, among other state and regional outlets. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

  6. Aug 9

    Grace Baron on The Sycamore Institute, Tennessee’s Budget and Impartial Policy Research

    The Sycamore Institute exists to help Tennesseans understand the issues, data and policy choices shaping the state. In this Season 5 Good Works episode, Brandon Burley talks with Grace Baron, Director of External Relations at The Sycamore Institute, about the organization’s work as an impartial, data-driven research and policy center for Tennessee. The conversation covers Tennessee’s state budget, Sycamore’s budget primer, county-level data, housing research, workforce development, education funding, property taxes, public policy, local governance and why clear information matters for voters, local leaders and communities across all 95 counties. This is a conversation about good work being done quietly: helping people understand the facts before they argue about the policy. I am a retired detective and criminal justice / government educator based in Tennessee. I am a commentary write for Tennessee Lookout and a weekly columnist with Knox TN Today. My work examines public policy, public safety systems and civic responsibility. My reporting and commentary have also appeared in Governing, The Arizona Capitol Times, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Police1, among other state and regional outlets. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

  7. Aug 8

    Tennessee Forward Party Chair Nick Nugent on Third Parties, Ballot Access and Breaking the Two-Party Grip

    What is the Tennessee Forward Party? In this Season 4 Civic Conversation, Brandon Burley talks with Nick Nugent, chair of the Tennessee Forward Party, about what the Forward Party is, why it wants to challenge the two-party system, how third parties try to gain ballot access, and why the party believes Tennessee voters may be hungry for another option. The conversation covers open primaries, ranked-choice and approval voting, gerrymandering, local races, candidate endorsements, Lauren Pinkston, and the Forward Party’s long-term goal of building from the ground up. This is not a campaign ad. It is a civic conversation about how political parties form, how voters get choices and what it would take for a third party to become viable in Tennessee. I am a retired detective and criminal justice / government educator based in Tennessee. I am a commentary write for Tennessee Lookout and a weekly columnist with Knox TN Today. My work examines public policy, public safety systems and civic responsibility. My reporting and commentary have also appeared in Governing, The Arizona Capitol Times, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Police1, among other state and regional outlets. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

  8. Aug 2

    More Than a Halfway House: How FOCUS Helps Women Rebuild After Incarceration

    Savannah Ford turned 30 years old in jail. The milestone landed harder than she expected. Looking back at her life, she felt as though the only things she had to show for those years were addiction and felony drug charges. She did not yet know what rebuilding would look like. After her release, Savannah entered the residential reentry program operated by FOCUS Women’s Ministry. She had not participated in the organization’s jail classes because FOCUS was not serving the facility where she had been incarcerated. But the ministry still gave her a place in its transitional home—and an opportunity to begin building a life beyond the one she had known Today, Savannah works for FOCUS. In this Season 5 episode of The Redemption Project, Brandon Burley speaks with Savannah about the ministry’s work with incarcerated and newly released women throughout East Tennessee. FOCUS operates what it calls its Behind the Walls and Beyond the Walls programs. Volunteers lead Bible studies, cognitive-behavioral classes and personal-development programs inside county jails and state prisons. The organization currently serves women in Knox, Anderson, Bledsoe, Sullivan, Scott and Blount counties. The work continues after release. FOCUS operates a 12-bed women’s home in Knoxville, where residents participate in a structured nine- to 12-month reentry program. Case managers help women obtain identification documents, apply for benefits, prepare for employment, secure clothing and hygiene supplies and begin learning how to navigate responsibilities that can feel overwhelming after incarceration. But Savannah says the work cannot stop at employment, rent and drug testing. Many of the women entering the program have experienced significant childhood trauma, addiction, abusive relationships and years of believing that pain is all they deserve. Savannah describes trauma as the gateway that often precedes substance use and incarceration. That is why FOCUS attempts to serve the whole person. The ministry provides practical assistance, accountability, relationships and faith-based support. Its goal is not merely to help women avoid another arrest. It is to help them understand their worth, develop healthier patterns and build lives in which they can contribute to their families and communities. FOCUS may technically meet the definition of a halfway house. Its work is intended to go much further. I am a retired detective and criminal justice / government educator based in Tennessee. I am a commentary write for Tennessee Lookout and a weekly columnist with Knox TN Today. My work examines public policy, public safety systems and civic responsibility. My reporting and commentary have also appeared in Governing, The Arizona Capitol Times, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Police1, among other state and regional outlets. Get full access to The Redemption Project Newsroom at newsroom.theredemptionproject.news/subscribe

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About

The Redemption Project tells real stories of change, accountability, and second chances. Hosted by Brandon Burley—a retired law enforcement detective, criminal justice educator, and journalist—this podcast features conversations with men and women who have lived on both sides of the justice system, along with the ministries, programs, and people helping them rebuild their lives. Each episode explores what redemption actually looks like after prison: recovery, faith, responsibility, failure, growth, and the long road back to trust and purpose. Some stories are quiet. Some are uncomfortable. newsroom.theredemptionproject.news

Information

  • Creator
    The Redemption Project
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Brandon L. Burley / The Redemption Project
  • Show Website
    The Redemption Project Podcast